Player News

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt restructured his contract Tuesday, March 24, to create $8 million in salary cap space for 2015. His $10 million roster bonus was turned into a signing bonus, according to a source.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt recently bought a log cabin in the "middle of nowhere" in Wisconsin in order to have a place to train in the offseason without any distractions. "It's really minimalistic," Watt said. "The only thing I have to focus on is training and that's the way I like it. There's no frills, there's nothing to distract you up here." He plans to build a gym in the cabin, and his offseason getaway will be similar to what he did last year when he devoted himself to daily improvement.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt (nose) was hit on the nose in the fourth quarter of the Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens, and he had blood running down his face into the mouth. He said Sunday, Dec. 21, that he required a couple of stitches. Watt had eight tackles and a sack, and he has 17 1/2 sacks for the season with a franchise-record 54 for his career.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt posted his third touchdown reception of the season in Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans. He added two sacks while adding a forced fumble and recovery, too. He is the first player with at least three offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns in a season since Joe Golding of the 1948 Boston Yanks.

Fantasy Tip: Fantasy commissioners are going to get protests from their league members next season to be able to use Watt as a tight end in 2015. For FantasyScore, it's unlikely he will be available on a week-to-week basis on offense, but Watt does have more touchdown receptions than more heralded fantasy options like San Diego Chargers WR Keenan Allen, New Orleans Saints WR Marques Colston, San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis, Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson, and Denver Broncos WR Wes Welker, just to name a few.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt had seven tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hits, three swatted passes and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in the team's Week 6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Thursday, Oct. 9.

Updating previous reports, Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt will have base salaries (salary cap numbers in parentheses) of $907,385 ($4.575 million) in 2014, $9.969 million ($21.969 million) in 2015, $10.5 million ($12.5 million) in 2016, $10.5 million ($12.5 million) in 2017, $11 million ($13 million) in 2018, $13 million ($13 million) in 2019, $15.5 million ($15.5 million) in 2020 and $17.5 million ($17.5 million) in 2021. He received a $10 million signing bonus and a $10 million roster bonus in March, which can be converted into a signing bonus for cap relief.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt could have the franchise tag used on him if the two sides can not reach an agreement on a new contract, according to owner Bob McNair. "You've got guys in the Hall of Fame that have been franchised in back-to-back years," McNair said. "The franchise tag is worth something to the team and you can't be afraid to use it."

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson "is not going to be traded," in the opinion to John McClain. Houston wants to avoid giving Johnson the $1 million workout bonus that he passed up by not participating in offseason activities or guarantee his 2015 salary. They don't want to create a precedent that can be manipulated by DE J.J. Watt's agent in the future. McClain said that "Any 33-year-old ... anybody doesn't walk away from" the $10 million that Houston owes Johnson.

Fantasy Tip: The financial clarity in this situation makes it likelier that Johnson will report, but you can't guarantee anything until there's a concrete resolution. Johnson remains at least a serviceable WR2 no matter where he plays this year.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt (knee) is nursing a hyperextended knee, suffered in practice Thursday, June 12, according to head coach Bill O'Brien. O'Brien added that the injury is not serious and that Watt was just given the day off.

Fantasy Tip: The good news is that the injury isn't serious. Watt may be the most impactful defensive player in the league.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel plans to be flexible with his defense and move guys around to create different looks for the opponent this year in his 3-4 defense. "You have to be flexible and be able to adapt to what your players can do, and you have to be able to adapt to what your opponent's doing," Crennel said. "It changes all the time." DE J.J. Watt could line up in a three-point stance or he might stand up. LB Jadeveon Clowney can stand in the base defense and drop in passing situations. LB Brooks Reed can play inside and outside and LB Whitney Mercilus can switch sides.

Fantasy Tip: They're not concerned with all the negatives. They'll squeeze him into this defense to try pairing him with J.J. Watt. Houston's fantasy defense is still backup material but, if all goes right, could be playable during the year. In IDPs, Clowney is a middle- to late-rounds pick with a lot of downside.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Texans are getting closer to being forced to make a decision about the star defensive lineman's future. The team has the ability to pick up the team option for a fifth year. The team does not Watt to reach free agency.

If the Houston Texans draft DE Jadeveon Clowney with the top overall draft pick, he would work closely with DE J.J. Watt. Owner Bob McNair said Watt could be the perfect mentor for Clowney. "He's not a J.J. Watt," McNair said. "J.J. didn't have that natural (ability). He worked. He developed his. I said to J.J., 'I don't know what will happen but if we get Clowney, we want you to instill in him the same kind of work habits that you have.' He said, 'Well, if he's in the same room with me, he'll have them.'" McNair said the team could also trade the top pick.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt became the second player in franchise history to finish with back-to-back seasons with 10 or more sacks. Former DE Mario Williams (Bills) also accomplished the feat from 2007-08.

Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt (nose) is likely to have plastic surgery in the offseason to fix a deep gash on the bridge of his nose that continues to be reopened every time he plays. The initial injury occurred in Week 4 and required six stitches. Watt said it is "very painful" each time he gets hit. He used a different helmet in Week 16 and plans to stick with it for the regular season finale. "Once it gets time to heal up and rest, it goes back to pretty normal," he said. "We'll see what happens. If it doesn't heal itself, then I will look into getting it fixed."